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What Xi Jinping’s banquet seating chart said about China and America

The Chinese business leaders seated beside Donald Trump in Beijing reveal how deeply intertwined the US and Chinese economies still are.

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China's President Xi Jinping (left) and US President Donald Trump attend a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on May 14.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and US President Donald Trump at a state banquet at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on May 14.

PHOTO: AFP

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Chinese social media spent much of last week mocking Xiaomi founder Lei Jun fanboying over Tesla’s Elon Musk at the state banquet for US President Donald Trump, as he sought a selfie for which the visibly bored Mr Musk grudgingly obliged, then proceeded to make a funny face.

But the more interesting story may have been the other people who were invited along with Mr Lei to mirror the formidable American business delegation that followed Mr Trump to Beijing on Air Force One.

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